A Virgin Australia flight turned into a heart-stopping ordeal for passengers and crew on Monday evening when the aircraft was forced to make an emergency return to Perth Airport after an engine fire erupted mid-air.
The Boeing 737-800, operating as flight VA697 to Denpasar, Bali, had just taken off from Perth when travellers reported hearing a disturbing 'loud bang' followed by sightings of flames shooting from one of the engines.
'We just heard a big bang and then saw a bit of flame out the window,' one shaken passenger told 7NEWS. 'It was pretty scary for a minute there.'
The aircraft immediately began dumping fuel over the ocean in preparation for an emergency landing. The pilot swiftly communicated the serious situation to air traffic control, declaring a 'PAN PAN' emergency – the international standard urgency signal indicating a concerning situation that requires attention but isn't immediately life-threatening.
Emergency Response Springs into Action
Perth Airport emergency services were placed on high alert as the aircraft circled back toward the airport. Fire trucks and emergency vehicles rushed to strategic positions along the runway, ready to respond to any potential disaster.
The tension was palpable both in the air and on the ground as the stricken aircraft made its approach. Fortunately, the pilot executed a textbook emergency landing, bringing the plane safely back to terra firma just after 6:30 pm local time.
Passengers Relieved but Rattled
While all 69 passengers and crew emerged physically unharmed, many were visibly shaken by the terrifying experience. The aircraft taxied to the terminal under its own power, but the normalcy of the procedure did little to calm rattled nerves.
'Everyone is okay, but it was definitely frightening,' another passenger confirmed, expressing the collective relief felt throughout the cabin.
Virgin Australia has confirmed the incident and stated that engineers are currently inspecting the aircraft to determine the exact cause of the engine malfunction. The airline has apologised to affected passengers and is working to reaccommodate them on alternative flights to Bali.
This dramatic incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of aviation safety protocols and the extensive training that enables pilots to handle such high-pressure situations with remarkable composure.
